IRISH LEAGUE: Teenager wasn’t in Institute’s original match day squad

Kevin McLaughlin

Manager Kevin Deery admitted that striker Alex Pomeroy showed great composure as he scored Institute’s all important second goal, in Saturday’s win over Knockbreda.

The 19-year-old wasn’t even in the match day squad before winger Stephen Curry picked up a hip injury in the warm-up and pulled out of the starting line-up, meaning Sammy Morrow started and Pomeroy was on the bench.

I sensed something because Alex had a bit of a spring in his step and an appetite to go on and do something.

Kevin Deery

“It was funny and it’s crazy, football,” stated Deery. “I spoke to Alex in midweek and told him if you give me something to think about, you’ll definitely get in the team. Then Stephen gets injured, and I sensed something because Alex had a bit of a spring in his step and an appetite to go on and do something.

“Alex’s composure to get in there was great and you like seeing your strikers getting in and scoring goals. It’s a great win for us because we’ve had a load of disappointments over the last three weeks, so we’ll enjoy this.”

The ’Stute gaffer also conceded that when Robert Burns headed home Knockbreda’s equaliser he thought the worst.

“Sometimes I think we start well and then we lose our way for 15 minutes but today we didn’t start all that well and then for 20 minutes before half-time we were very good and looking dangerous,” he added.

“But they made a change in the second half and it got them a load of territory and we conceded a soft free kick and a 5ft 6’ player heads it into the net and you’re thinking ‘Aw naw, not one of those days’, but we showed quality in the last 25 minutes and we scored good goals and that’s what we do. If teams come out against us, our quality gets us in on goal. I’m disappointed we didn’t keep a clean sheet. Our half-time team talk was about being resolute and keeping a team sheet, but the three points was important.”

After last weekend’s non-penalty award, this week Jamie McIntyre rightfully was awarded a spot-kick, much to Deery’s delight.

“Jamie and I shared a joke because when I was playing and if I got into that position I hit it off the man for a corner but he does a Cruyff turn and wins a penalty,” he laughed. “That’s what these people who can win you matches do. They see things and he was excellent today and I’m really glad we got three goals.”

Deery was also full of praise for recent signings Raymond Foy and Sammy Morrow.

“I felt Raymond Foy really stepped up. You can see he’s had a few games under his belt and he was fit,” he added. “Sammy wasn’t going to start the game so I had to make a decision. He had an edge about him this week and the last few weeks.

“We don’t just want him to come in and show bits of quality on the ball; we want him to say ‘right lads, for us to challenge and to get into play-offs, we need to push on and this is your attitude and this is your commitment’, and I felt he did that today in his performance, and he has to be praised for that.”